[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 21 (Thursday, February 4, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S635-S637]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FLINT, MICHIGAN, WATER CRISIS
Mr. REID. Mr. President, 100,000 people in Flint, MI, have been
poisoned, but sadly the Republicans are doing nothing. Nine thousand
children, all under the age of 6, have been poisoned. Their brains have
been attacked. Still, Republicans have refused to do anything to help.
For the last 2 weeks, the Senators from Michigan have worked on an
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amendment that would allow Federal funds to address the Flint water
crisis. Senators Stabenow and Peters worked hard to negotiate with
Republicans. But almost having an agreement in place is not an
agreement. We need Republicans to work with us to reach an agreement
and let the people of Flint know that help is on its way; otherwise,
Senate Republicans will continue ignoring Flint. If that is the case,
then I would like my Republican colleagues to come to the floor and
explain to this country why this manmade disaster in Flint is not
worthy of the Republicans' attention. Tell us why 100,000 Americans
should be forced to drink polluted water and bathe in poisonous water.
One mother told Senator Stabenow: I was doing everything I could for
my children. I made sure that they stopped drinking soda pop. So they
didn't have soda pop. They drank water. But it was horrible water, and
it has affected my children's lives. She said: I am responsible for the
poisoning of my children.
I heard statements made by the assistant Republican leader earlier
this week, and here is a direct quote: ``While we all have sympathy for
what's happened in Flint, this is primarily a local and State
responsibility.''
I don't know if ``outrageous'' is sufficient to describe this. After
all, it was the assistant Republican leader who just last year welcomed
Federal disaster assistance for the people of Texas because of the
terrible flooding that was taking place. Again in 2013, the town of
West, which is in Texas, suffered a catastrophic explosion of a
fertilizer plant--another manmade disaster. The Senator from Texas was
quick to seek Federal assistance. He said:
We will aggressively pursue this matter with FEMA and
pursue all appeals and remedies available to us. . . . This
was a disaster area and their failure to acknowledge it as
such is just inexcusable. We're going to get the residents of
West the assistance they need.
The junior Senator from Texas--one of the many Republicans running
for President--was just as eager to accept Federal funds. He said:
I am confident that the Texas congressional delegation,
Senator Cornyn and I . . . will stand united as Texans in
support of the Federal Government fulfilling its statutory
obligations, and stepping in to respond to this natural
disaster.
According to Senator Cruz, the Federal Government had an obligation
to help Texas. He is right. We had an obligation, and we fulfilled that
obligation. But we also have an obligation to help Flint, MI.
I ask my colleagues from Texas and the other Republicans here in the
Senate, why are floods and explosions in Texas disasters worthy of
Federal support and not the help needed for 100,000 poisoned people in
Flint, MI? Why do Texans deserve Federal assistance but not the people
of Flint? What could the reason be?
The sad thing is that this sort of hypocrisy isn't limited to just
the Senators from Texas. The junior Senator from Florida--one of the
many running for President on the Republican side--is doing the same
thing.
Last year Florida was hit with extreme flooding. Senator Rubio
appealed for Federal assistance. He wrote a letter to the President. He
said: ``As Floridians continue to reel from the effects of last month's
torrential rains and flooding, I respectfully request you consider
Governor Scott's appeal for a Major Disaster Declaration for Individual
Assistance for the five impacted counties.'' That is what he wrote to
President Obama last year, but, like it always is with the Senator from
Florida, that was then and this is now. This is what the junior Senator
from Florida says now: ``I believe the federal government's role in
some of these things [is] largely limited unless it involves a federal
jurisdictional issue.'' That is a buzz word for saying ``Good luck,
Flint.'' According to Senator Rubio, Floridians deserve disaster
assistance but not the people of Flint. This Senator hopes to become
President; yet he refuses to treat all Americans the same.
There are plenty of other examples. Whenever their States have been
hard hit, Republican Senators run here to the Senate floor and demand
Federal aid--as well they should. The Federal Government should help in
times of disaster. There has to be a bit of consistency from
Republicans. They must be fair to everyone. The people of Flint are
just like every other American. They are deserving of the Federal
Government's help.
Mr. President, I have a letter from the Congressional Black Caucus. I
am not going read the whole letter, but I ask unanimous consent that it
be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record as follows:
Congressional Black Caucus,
Washington, DC, February 4, 2016.
Senator Mitch McConnell,
Majority Leader, U.S. Senate, The Capitol, Washington, DC.
Dear Senator McConnell: The state of emergency in Flint,
Michigan requires immediate action from the United States
Senate. Our children have been poisoned because of poor
decision-making by some and inaction by others who are
responsible for protecting the most vulnerable among us.
Senate Republicans should not prevent federal emergency
assistance to the people of Flint by blocking the common-
sense amendments offered by Michigan Senators Debbie Stabenow
and Gary Peters to the Energy Policy and Modernization Act.
Instead, both parties should come to an agreement on an
emergency relief package for the people of Flint.
While there are no flooded streets or people stranded on
the roof of their home, poisoned water still runs through the
faucets in Flint. There are children with visible scars, and
those who will have mental health issues and learning
disabilities that we cannot yet see. Bottled water is not a
solution. It is a band-aid that will not heal this gaping
wound. The City of Flint is in crisis.
Providing emergency assistance to Flint is not a bailout.
The Stabenow-Peters amendments would: a) provide emergency
finding to help repair Flint's water infrastructure, b)
notify the public of concentrations of lead in the water, and
c) connect children and adults exposed to lead poisoning with
community services and health experts. Moreover, other
communities currently dealing with lead water crises in
states like Ohio and elsewhere could also benefit from these
resources.
Republican senators have routinely requested this type of
assistance when disasters occurred in their states. The
people of Flint deserve nothing less. Republicans must join
Democrats in meeting our moral obligation to protect the
health of our children.
Senator McConnell, we are asking for your leadership to
ensure your Republican colleagues do not condemn the people
of Flint to more pain and suffering by blocking these
amendments.
Very truly yours,
G. K. Butterfield,
Chairman,
The Congressional Black Caucus.
Mr. REID. Here is what is said in the final two paragraphs:
Republican Senators have routinely requested this type of
assistance when disasters occurred in their states. The
people of Flint deserve nothing less. Republicans must join
Democrats in meeting our moral obligation to protect the
health of our children.
This is what is said by Congressman Butterfield, who is the chair of
the Congressional Black Caucus.
The final paragraph in the letter says:
Senator McConnell, we are asking for your leadership to
ensure your Republican colleagues do not condemn the people
of Flint to more pain and suffering by blocking these
amendments.
I would hope my Republican colleagues would look in the mirror and
ask themselves a simple question: What would I do if 100,000 of my
constituents were poisoned?
I urge my Republican colleagues to join us in addressing this
critical issue.
In a conference held in Las Vegas, NV, yesterday, one of the foremost
experts dealing with water, Pat Mulroy, said that the ``stupid stunt''
that led to widespread lead contamination in Flint, MI, has dealt a
blow to public confidence in water systems everywhere--even in places
such as Southern Nevada, where lead pipes are not an issue. ``It has
given a black eye [to water management] not just in Michigan, not just
in the United States, but around the world.''
She went on to say:
I was angry. I was very angry. They did it to save money.
But was it really worth affecting these children's lives
forever to save a couple of bucks?
She also said that complaints about the water began a month after the
switch, but officials waited for almost 2 years. By then, tests showed
elevated levels of lead, which causes brain damage.
She said:
The finger-pointing is going to be endless for a while,
especially as lawsuits begin to emerge. . . . I think there
will be criminal charges.
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I don't know if there will be criminal charges, but these are pretty
egregious actions taken by the State of Michigan.
She said that ready access to clean water is something most Americans
take for granted, but something like this can cast doubt on the whole
system. ``Now there is a crack in that trust relationship,'' she said.
``In Flint it is gone.'' That is certainly true.
So I would certainly hope my Republican colleagues will understand it
is important that we do something now to help these people. We have
something that can be done. It should be done. Republicans should stop
it. It is not something that is a local issue or a State issue.
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